Mobile phone company loses appeal against 12m mast
Dec 15 2005
A MOBILE phone company which is trying to erect a 40ft high telecommunications mast in the Mole Valley countryside has had its appeal refused.
A planning inspector told T-Mobile UK that the proposed mast would be "a prominent and unsym-pathetic feature" and that she would not uphold the appeal against the original decision to refuse planning permission.
The phone company wanted to erect the mast on the grass verge to the north of the Clarks Green roundabout on the A24, to give coverage to customers in that area.
Permission had been refused by Mole Valley District Council on May 31, prompting T-Mobile to appeal against the decision.
But planning inspector Sue Turner was concerned by the "harmful effect" the mast would have on the character and appearance of the surrounding countryside.
She observed that the 12 metre-high mast "would be clearly visible projecting above the tree line", where most of the trees in the area are "in the range eight to 10 metres".
The inspector thought that not enough careful consideration had been given to alternative sites, and refused the appeal.
Gordon Simmons of T-Mobile said: "There are something like 60 million mobile phones in use (in the country) today and we are using them more and more.
"As such, we need to continue with development of the network to ensure that customers get the coverage they expect.
"We work pretty hard to come up with solutions and designs that blend in with the landscape.
"There is an urgent need for coverage in the area and this refusal will be under review."
http://icsurreyonline.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0500dorkingleatherhead/tm_objectid=16485187&method=full&siteid=50101&headline=mobile-phone-company-loses-appeal-against-12m-mast-name_page.html
A MOBILE phone company which is trying to erect a 40ft high telecommunications mast in the Mole Valley countryside has had its appeal refused.
A planning inspector told T-Mobile UK that the proposed mast would be "a prominent and unsym-pathetic feature" and that she would not uphold the appeal against the original decision to refuse planning permission.
The phone company wanted to erect the mast on the grass verge to the north of the Clarks Green roundabout on the A24, to give coverage to customers in that area.
Permission had been refused by Mole Valley District Council on May 31, prompting T-Mobile to appeal against the decision.
But planning inspector Sue Turner was concerned by the "harmful effect" the mast would have on the character and appearance of the surrounding countryside.
She observed that the 12 metre-high mast "would be clearly visible projecting above the tree line", where most of the trees in the area are "in the range eight to 10 metres".
The inspector thought that not enough careful consideration had been given to alternative sites, and refused the appeal.
Gordon Simmons of T-Mobile said: "There are something like 60 million mobile phones in use (in the country) today and we are using them more and more.
"As such, we need to continue with development of the network to ensure that customers get the coverage they expect.
"We work pretty hard to come up with solutions and designs that blend in with the landscape.
"There is an urgent need for coverage in the area and this refusal will be under review."
http://icsurreyonline.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0500dorkingleatherhead/tm_objectid=16485187&method=full&siteid=50101&headline=mobile-phone-company-loses-appeal-against-12m-mast-name_page.html
Starmail - 15. Dez, 22:47
